The President of Ethiopia, Negaso Gidada, has warned citizens that they must be prepared to defend Ethiopian sovereignty if Eritrean troops do not withdraw from an area of disputed territory.

President Gidada described the Eritrean government as irresponsible, and promised to take decisive action to safeguard Ethiopian rights.

International efforts at mediation in the two-week-old border dispute have so far failed.

Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, says its army has only retaken land seized by Ethiopia six months ago.